Greece: Act II of Greece’s debt tragedy
On Friday, Greece asked for 53.5 billion euros to help cover its debts until 2018, a review of primary surplus targets and ‘re-profiling’ the country’s long-term debt. Greece’s future is in the hands of the European Central Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission, France and Germany. With Greece and Germany at loggerheads, France has found itself caught in the middle. The country’s role is a pivotal one; it must help them to look beyond their past disputes. Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel is in a tricky situation. She can’t ignore the fact that most German politicians and a portion of the public are tired of hearing about Greece. The International Monetary Fund has been unpredictable since Christine Lagarde took over in 2011, its interests sometimes aligning with Greece, at other times with its creditors. Some have questioned whether the Greek debt crisis has undermined the European Commission instead of reinforcing its role at the heart of Europe’s institutions.
Gibraltar: First step in future renewable energy sources
A French ‘cleantech’ company will study the possibility of installing marine turbines on the seabed in British waters off Gibraltar. The Gibraltar government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Blue Shark Power, a company that is developing patented technology for the manufacture of high power marine renewable energy turbines. Gibraltar’s Minister for the Environment said, ‘The sea provides a vast source of potential energy resources and as renewable energy technology develops, investments in ocean energy are likely to grow. Given our unique and strategic location within the Strait, it is only right that Gibraltar forms part of the global drive to harness our oceans. This agreement is the first step in what could be one of Gibraltar’s major renewable energy sources in future.’ Initial surveys are expected to commence in autumn this year, in different areas of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.
Germany: Merkel summons US envoy over spy claims
‘We confirm that US ambassador John Emerson was invited to the chancellery to talk’, a German government source told AFP. New documents released by WikiLeaks show that the United States did not just tap German Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone but also eavesdropped on several ministers in the ministries of finance, economy and agriculture. WikiLeaks revealed a list of 69 phone numbers that were targeted, belonging to ministers and senior officials dating back to 2010 and 2012. Current Economy Minister and Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel was among those spied on by the NSA. Merkel herself phoned US President Barack Obama over the revelations and in public told Germany's traditional post-war ally and NATO partner that ‘spying between friends just isn't on’.
France: French beheading suspect denies jihad motivation
The man being held in France under suspicion of beheading his boss and trying to blow up a chemicals plant has told investigators there was no religious motivation behind the attack, according to a source close to the inquiry. Yassin Salhi told investigators he was not a jihadist and repeated earlier statements that he committed the act outside the southeast city of Lyon on Friday after a row with his wife the day before and his boss a few days earlier. Examination of one of Salhi's phones revealed he had taken a picture of himself with the severed head before his arrest and sent the image to a number belonging to a French national last traced to the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa in Syria. Friday's attack stirred new security fears in France. Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the threat facing France, a member of the international coalition fighting Islamic State in Iraq, has never been greater.
